Toyota hit the brakes on its political donations and now says it will no longer give money to the campaigns of any member of Congress who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The surprising about-face comes after the car giant was raked over the coals when it was discovered that it donated more money to election objectors than any other major company.
In announcing its decision, the Japanese carmaker said in part:
“We are actively listening to our stakeholders and, at this time, have decided to stop contributing to those members of Congress who contested the certification of certain states in the 2020 election.”
That is in sharp contrast to its statement in June defending its donations after they had been revealed. That statement read:
“We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on the electoral certification.”
The company apparently had a change of heart after the outrage spread across social media. After all, brand names like Toyota likely don’t want to be anywhere close to controversy, especially one linked to an attack on one of the foundational acts of American democracy.
It should be noted that the Lincoln Project, made up of a group of Never-Trump Republicans, had launched its latest ad campaign today, which targeted companies that contributed to the campaign of 2020 election objectors. Its first ad featured…that’s right, Toyota.
It’s not clear if Toyota’s decision to halt contributions to those lawmakers had anything to do with the Lincoln Project’s plans, but the group did praise the automaker for its decision.
Others also pointed out that the intense public pressure was loud enough that it was clearly heard in Toyota’s executive suites.
